bound 1 of 5

noun (1)

Definition of boundnext
1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency

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2
as in confines
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something colored outside the bounds of the drawing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bound

2 of 5

noun (2)

as in leap
an act of leaping into the air the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone

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bound

3 of 5

verb (1)

1
as in to define
to mark the limits of the country is bounded by water on two sides

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2
as in to border
to serve as a border for being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality

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bound

4 of 5

verb (2)

1
as in to hop
to move with a light springing step the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leap
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air a rabbit bounded down the garden path

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bound

5 of 5

adjective

ˈbau̇nd How to pronounce bound (audio)
as in determined
fully committed to achieving a goal I am bound and determined to write a novel before I turn 30

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bound
Noun
In many cases, fishers are operating fully within the bounds of local regulations. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The ball deflected of the keeper Nikola Vasilj, then Robinson, and went out of bounds. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
It is bounded by Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026 The cheers rose in volume when Williams bounded to the center of the court and shuffled side to side like a boxer, loosening her shoulder joint and getting used to the feeling of grass beneath her feet again. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Adjective
The bound paper booklets in which students hand-write their responses to test questions have surged in popularity during the AI explosion. — Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026 The Dodgers’ split-squad group that journeyed the 14 miles from Glendale (and ultimately lost to Texas, 7-6) was largely a skeleton crew of Triple-A bound prospects and wannabes. — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bound
  1. limit
  2. edge
  3. leap
  4. define
  5. border
  6. hop
  7. jump
  8. determined
Noun
  • Gas stations across Russia are imposing limits on purchases, CNN’s analysis found, with fuel- tracking websites popping up to guide drivers to the best spots to fill up.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • People who were enrolled in graduate school and received a federal loan before July 1 will not face the new limits, according to the Education Department.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • The Detroit pizza features the style’s signature crown of crispy cheese around the edges, and a blanket of brick cheese.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Both the scalloped edges and adorable blue gingham print made this a top pick for me.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • In these nine half-baths, designers listed on the AD PRO Directory take imaginative leaps, treating each one as a canvas to wow.
    — Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 13 July 2026
  • But the real challenge – and the reason no bird-scale robot has managed this leap before – is the split second in between, when the robot has to shove itself out of the water with nothing but its wings.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
Definition of leap
Verb
  • The 21st Century Road to Housing Act was a striking bipartisan win in a legislative body that has been defined by partisan gridlock.
    — Jack Harvel July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • This allows manufacturers to bypass spinning, weaving, cutting or sewing — the multistage process that has defined apparel manufacturing for centuries.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • In the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, which borders Crimea, another video shows a man filling up a container in the back of his car while two women berate him for breaking the rules.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The western zone was bordered to the north by County Road J, to the south by County Road S, to the west by Cahone and to the east by the Bradfield area.
    — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of border
Verb
  • As a result, the harmonies and chords are in a state of perpetual change, moving together more like clouds of starlings or minnows than a single frog hopping from stone to stone.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • These yellow dots would hop from planet to planet, until eventually landing on earth.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Definition of hop
Verb
  • How to choose vibration plates and get started Don’t jump into anything new all at once, but gradually.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • The driver hits Leatherface in the head with a wrench, incapacitating him long enough for the driver to run away and Sally to jump into the cab of a passing pickup truck.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
Definition of jump
Adjective
  • Plus, Scott has invested in climate action, donating $90 million to the Forests, People, Climate (FPC) collaborative determined to end tropical deforestation.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 July 2026
  • But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Definition of determined

Browse Nearby Words

bouncy
bound
boundaries
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Cite this Entry

“Bound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bound. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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